Life-boat



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, W. W. PARKER.

LIFE BOAT. Y No. 375,566. I Patented Dec. 27, 1887.

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(N0 Mo dl.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2. W. W. PARKER.

LIFE BOAT.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcs.

WILLIAM W. PARKER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

LIFE-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 375,566, dated December27, 1887.

Application filed April 4, 1887.

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W PARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a life-boat which is both water and airtight, is proof against swamping, and has facilities for navigating thesame either by sail or cars, or both combined.

The invention consists, essentially, in a flexible cover made of indiarubber or waterproof canvas,which extends from bow to stern and gunwaleto gunwale, and is supported upon arched stays attached to the boat.This flexible cover is detac-hably secured around the sides and ends ofthe boat by means of a strong elastic band inserted into the lower edgeof the cover and encircling the gunwales of the boat. An opening orman-hole of a special form is made in the cover for the entrance ofpersons and provisions, and other water-tight openings are provided forthe passage of sail-controlling ropes and cars and tiller. A sail at thebow of the boat is capa' ble of being raised and lowered and set atdifferent angles from the inside of the boat, and this sail is supportedor mounted in position in a special manner.

The invention, briefly outlined in the following statement, will be"hereinafter more fully described,and then set forth in the claims. Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of alife-boat embodying my invention with its sail set and a rudder inposition for steering. Fig. 2 is a 1ongitudinal section through theboat. Fig. 3 is a detail view of part of the water-tight cover, showingits spiral passage and the cap for closing the latter. Fig. 4 is atransverse section through the bow portion of the boat, showing themanner of supporting and operating the sail. Fig. 5 is a front view ofthe sail, showing its hinged frame.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a flexible cover, which is made ofindia-rubber, water-proof canvas, or other appropriate material. Thiscover extends from bow to stern Serial No. 233,652. (No model.)

and from gunwale to gunwale, and is some what of the order of awagon-top cover, since it is supported by means of arched ribs 2,whichextend across the boat and are secured to the sides thereof. ThisIndia-rubber or other water-proof cover is to be applied to the boatjust below the gunwales, and in order to secure it at such points it hasa groove, 3, in its lower margin for the reception of a strongindia-rubber band, 4. The latter encircles the boat in its entirelength, so as to make the junction between the cover and wood-work ofthe boat both water and air tight. It is obvious that the size andstrength of the elastic retaining-band must be in proportion to the sizeof the boat, and that by means of said band the flexible cover can beattached to any open boat without resorting to other fastening devices.

At or near the bow of the boat is arranged a vertical tube, 5,which-passes through an opening in the front portion of the flexiblecover, that lies flat upon the gunwales of the boat at this point. Thetube 5 is encircled by concentric sheets of india-rubber,6,forming awater-tight sleeve for a rope, 7 ,passing through the same from theinside of the boat. Another opening in rear of the one for the passageof the tube 5 serves for the downward passage of .a cylindrical stem orshank, 8, which has its bearing in a transverse bridge-piece, 9, formingpart of the frame of the boat. The lower end of the stem 8 is madesquare, and is entered in a corresponding socket, 10, in a horizontalbar, 11, arranged beneath the bridgepiece 9. A pin, 12, is passedthrough the socket 10 and the stem 8, and serves to lock these partstogether and prevent the vertical displacement of the stem 8 while stillpermitting it to rotate. Upon the top of the stem 8, outside theflexible cover, is mounted a plat form or strong disk, 13, which haseyes or hooks 13 for receiving a series of rods, 14., that can turn ineither direction upon the eyes or hooks in the manner of anumbrella-frame. The upper ends of these pivoted rods are connected by across-bar, 15, and they have eyes or other means for securing thereto asheet of canvas constituting a sail. Thelower endof the latter isconnected with a transverse boom, I00

16, which passes through a ring or keeper, 17, on the platform 13, andis made of such a length as is necessary to hold the sail properlydistended.

From the side of the sail-frame facing the stern of the boat extends arope, 19, which passes through an opening, 20, in the flexible cover tothe interior of theboat. Ropes 21, connected with the horizontal barll,serve for turning the platform and the sail mounted thereon, so as toturn it to the right or left or present it differently to the windwithin a ra dius of ninety degrees, and by means of the rope 19 thesail-frame can be drawn backward and laid upon the flexible cover, whilethe other rope, 7 serves as a means for inclining the sail toward thebow of the boat.

It is obvious that by the arrangement of parts described the sail can bemanipulated from the inside of the boat with perfect ease and dispatch.

At some point near the stern the flexible cover is provided with a largespirally-shaped opening, 25, which is formed by attaching a tubeshapedfabric to the cover and twisting it so as to give a spiral interior, ametal hoop around the top serving to hold it distended. This opening islarge enough for the passage of persons, provisions, &c., and itprojects a proper distance above the cover-say one or two feet. Thisspiral opening 25 has fitted to it a strong cap, 26, having bulls-eyesin the front and rear, and retained in position by bands and hooks. Avalve may also be arranged in the top of this cap for the purpose ofadmitting air. The cap 26 is twisted spirally like the opening 25, andit is capable of being pulled down over the latter, when, by expandingthe base of said opening, the parts will be rendered water-tight. At thestern portion of the cover is arranged a bulls-eye, 29, for obtaininglight, and the same may serve also for ventilation. An opening, 30, ismade in the stern for the passage of an ear when needed to steer with,and this opening is surrounded by an elastic sleeve, 31, which closelyhugs the ear and prevents the entrance of water. A rubber stopper isinserted when the our is withdrawn. Two small openings, 32, are alsoprovided for the tiller when the rudder is used. It is to be understoodthat the various openings made in the flexible cover for the passage ofthe tiller-ropes and ear are provided with water-tight sleeves, madepreferably of concentric strips of india-rubber, which, when notdistended by the objects passing through the same, close, and are proofagainst the entrance of water.

In addition to the sail at the bow of the boat, I contemplate the use ofanother sail, which is detachable and is carried in the boat, and can beput in position by a person standing in the large spiral opening.

It is understood that a flexible water-proof cover of the characteremployed by me can be applied to any open boat to convert it into alife-boat that cannot be swamped, the arched shape of the cover servingto make a structure that will always be self -righting. It is intendedthat the cover remain upon the boat ready for use at a moments notice,but obviously so as not to impair the elasticity of the retaining-bandby constant stretching. The band can be lifted off the stern of the boatwhen the same is not in use. A further advantage possessed by a boathaving a cover of the type proposed by me is that in winter thepassengers are protected from the cold. In good weather the cover can beeasily lifted from the stern and replaced when necessary.

The cover is preferably made of some whitematerial, so as to give asmuch light as possible.

Instead of the cap for closing the spiral opening in the cover, Ipropose that the captain or sailing-master be clothed in a waterproofsuit with a cape, and that he seat himself in the opening, leaving hisarms free, however. The body of the person thus stationed will controlthe size of the opening, so as to make a water-tight joint around thebody. Furthermore, it would not be necessary, except for a short time,to fear water entering this opening if left uncovered, because it is sofar from the bow of the boat that the shipped seas would not reach it.It will be understood that the various ropes for controlling the sailspass around tackle-blocks on the interior of the boat, and thatfastening devices are provided for said ropes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination,with a boat having a gunwale and arched supporting-stays, of a flexibleWater-proof cover supported by the stays and having its lower edgeextending entirely around the gunwale, and a continuous elastic bandencircling the gunwale andpressing the lower edge of the coverthereupon, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a boat having a gunwale and archedsupporting-stays, of a flexible water-proof cover supported by the staysand having its lower edge provided with the surrounding groove 3 andextending entirely around the gunwale, and the continuous elastic band4, engaging said groove and encircling the gunwale to press the groovededge of the cover thereupon, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the flexible waterproof cover, having thespirally-shaped opening or man-hole suitably located therein, with theboat having means for supporting said cover, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the flexible waterproof cover having thespirally-shaped opening or man-hole, and the spirally-shaped flexiblecap fitted to said opening, with the boat having means for supportingthe cover, substantially as herein set forth.

' 5. The combination of the bridge-piece 9,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 10 presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM W. PARKER.

Witnesses:

W. P. KNOWLES, A. R. WOODSON.

